The Top 7 Rules of Effective Online Reputation Management for Businesses

These days, online reputation management is truly essential for any business. Whether your business has a webpage or not, people very well may be talking about your business on social networking websites, on blogs, and on websites that enable users to review businesses and services. Online reputation management is the art of managing your business or brand’s web presence and creating a positive online image for your business or brand. The following are the top 7 rules of effective online reputation management for businesses. With these 7 rules in mind, you can start on the pathway to success in online reputation management.

1. Check in With Your Customers

Make sure that your customers are satisfied and happy. That is the best way to effectively manage your online reputation. Happy customers go online and rave about businesses and products that they love. Unhappy customers go online and bash businesses and products that they dislike. Check in with your customers and make sure they are happy and you will avoid many online reputation issues.

2. Maintain a Good Relationship with Your Employees

One disgruntled employee can cause a lot of problems, especially in the age of social media. Maintain a good relationship with your current and former employees and you will not have to deal with cleaning up the potential PR nightmare that a disgruntled employee can create.

3. Consistency is Key, as is Transparency

For business owners, being transparent means providing information when customers request it, and providing copies of your contract or guarantees if requested to do so. Be consistent, and follow through on your promises so that you can maintain a positive online reputation.

4. Listen to the Conversation about Your Business

One great way to increase your online reputation is by listening to the conversation about your business. That means monitoring the social networking websites, and checking the search engines to see if anyone is discussing you or your brand. Listen to the conversation, and respond when appropriate.

5. Be Careful What You Say Online

Online writing can come back to haunt you if you are not careful. Be mindful what you say on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media websites. Post comments on Blogs to increase your online presence, but again be mindful of the things you say, as they may live on ‘forever’ online.

It has never been more important to maintain high integrity in business practices. Be honest and sincere. Request that your customers and clients provide you with feedback regarding your products and services and then actually respond to their concerns either directly or by modifying your business practices.

6. Begin Building Your Online Reputation As Soon as You Can

The most important rule is not to put it off, and to begin building your online reputation as soon as you can. If you don’t take the initiative and control what is being said about your brand or business online, someone else may take it upon themselves to start talking about your business online without needing your knowledge or consent. With online reputation management, you can ensure that your online presence is positive and that it increases your overall business and online referrals.